Meet the Team

Phil Risser – President & CEO

Phil was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on the same dairy farm he lives on today. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Agricultural Engineering from Penn State University and University of Wisconsin – Madison respectively. While working for International Harvester, he received his first of many patents. Phil has led multiple engineering teams, including the VAL-CO Engineering Department since 2009. In 2013, he took on the role of President & CEO, but continues to lead the engineering team. In addition to his responsibilities in the office, he has stayed true to his farmer roots, and still runs a 100 acre farm. Phil is dedicated to growing VAL-CO by supporting and serving his team members. His development mindset has led to innovative products, a reputation for quality, and marked growth both domestically and across international markets. Phil believes that hard work works and is relentless in overcoming challenges. He acts with integrity, respect, and tolerance in all of his business dealings, and encourages creativity and teamwork to support innovative improvements. Phil enjoys working way too much, farming and field work, backpacking in the Rockies, and spending time at his cabin.

Bob Zeller – VP Sales, North America

Bob was born and primarily raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, excepting a seven-year stay in Germany. Upon graduation from West Chester State College (now West Chester University). Bob worked for Pennfield Feed selling grain to cattle producers. He successfully grew his territory over the years before coming to VAL-CO, where he began his career in poultry and swine. Bob strives to “always do the right thing, even when no one is looking” and this mantra has afforded him the privilege to lead people and watch them grow over the years. Bob’s all-time favorite hobby is golf, but he also enjoys biking and skiing, including helicopter skiing down mountains in avalanches.

Adrian Hunting – VP Sales, International

Adrian was born and raised as a true citizen of the globe. Originally from Wales, he’s lived in various parts of the United Kingdom, spent several years in Nigeria, and moved back to England where he completed his secondary education. After working some time in the oil industry, Shell UK granted him a scholarship to study geology, which he studied at London University. After the oil prices crashed, Adrian moved to Scotland to work odd jobs, finally finding steady work with Booker McConnell where he established, constructed and managed operational salmon farms. He left the UK for New Zealand in 1987, taking his expertise in fisheries with him. Eventually he switched to poultry, running a breeding program for Tegel Foods. He moved to Fiji to set up a breeding program, which became his first encounter with VAL-CO, when he purchased equipment for a new breeder farm. He became an independent VAL-CO agent covering Asia and achieved phenomenal growth in that area. He eventually relocated to Holland, Netherlands, and is currently the VP of International Sales. Once a competitive rugby player, he has since resigned to armchair critic. He also has a love for sailing, hiking, gardening and woodworking. He has relocated back to New Zealand to be with his wife, Carol, their children, and new granddaughter when he is not traveling.

Brian Phillips

Brian was born and raised in a little one-stop light town called Ellisville, Mississippi. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a BS in Business Administration but stayed true to his roots and began his poultry career with Sanderson Farms servicing both broilers and breeders. Brian moved to into sales with VAL-CO in April 2007 where his 19 years in the poultry industry have made him an invaluable leader on the team. Currently, Brian works as the National Account Manager, where he is responsible for key integrator accounts within the company. Additionally, he is also responsible for part of the southern territory, including Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas.

“I believe the order of importance in my life is 1. God 2. Family 3. Work. That order of things has helped me and our company grow throughout my career. Every day is a new challenge in doing our part to feed a hungry world. One thing that remains constant is that animals and growing practices are ever changing. I find satisfaction in assisting customers find successful solutions to these challenges that they face.” Brian married his high school sweetheart, Dana, and they have been married 21 years. They have 2 boys Nash, 16, and Kade, 14. He enjoys boating, hunting and playing sports with his boys.

Matt Joyce

Raised on a dairy farm in Jasper, Missouri, Matt has been blessed to spend his entire career in agriculture. For 22 years, Matt operated a 2300 and a 3400 head nursery. Aside from working his own farm, Matt also worked as a Territory Manager with Smithfield for 20 years. Today, Matt works as VAL-CO’s swine sales manager, where he is responsible for the growth of our swine market share. Matt keeps his values of hard work, integrity, trust, loyalty, and honor front and center of everything he does, as his faith in God drives him to be servant minded. Matt has been married to his wife, Michelle, for 30 years; they have 3 kids and 4 grandkids. Matt leads an active life hunting, fishing, riding his Harley with his covenant brothers, ministering to inmates in prison, and hiking with his friends.

Darryl Moore

Darryl grew up on a tobacco farm in eastern North Carolina, where he and is 16 brothers and sisters helped raise hogs, chickens, and farm other field crops. He continued his involvement in agriculture by studying Applied Animal Science in Livestock & Poultry Production at Wayne Community College, and then starting his career in the poultry industry as a spray vaccinator for broilers. He worked in live production as a breeder manager for Perdue Farms for 22 years before coming to VAL-CO as the Northeast Territory Sales Manager. He married his wife, Michelle, in 1981, and together they have two sons. Darryl’s greatest joy is his family, but he also enjoys travel, hunting, fishing, and camping.

Jacob Caviness

Bennett, North Carolina native Jacob has been a chicken man since age 12. His first job was on a chicken farm, and it spurred an entire career around raising chickens. Jacob studied Poultry and Animal Science at NC State, and then went to work for Mountaire Farms, where he worked as a Broiler Service Tech, Broiler Manager, and Assistant Hatchery Manager. In 2002, he was recognized as the Broiler Flock Supervisor of the Year with Mountaire Farms of NC. At the time, he had only been employed there two years, and his discipline and hard work helped him turn a route of older houses and make it into the best in the company. Currently, Jacob is a Territory Sales Manager covering North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. “I come from an area where farming is a way of life. I strive to be honest, reliable, and dependable, because farmers need products – and people – they can depend on to make their living and feed their families” Jacob enjoys hunting, camping with his family, and coaching his son’s baseball team.

Haven Wheless

As an Athens, GA native, Haven has poultry farming at his roots. He attended the University of Georgia where he studied Forestry, but couldn’t escape fate, and has been in the chicken business for 17 years. His years of experience and his humble, grounded demeanor have helped him become a trusted adviser in his role as Territory Sales Manager. He has seen the industry evolve from the labor-intensive practice it once was to the streamlined, technologically advanced system it is today, and looks forward to the continuing trend of automation in the industry. Haven cherishes his family – his wife and best friend Kim, and daughter, Alli. In his free time he hunts, fishes, and enjoys college football.

Kenan Couch

Born and raised on a cattle farm in southwest Missouri, Kenan has agriculture in his blood. From a young age he was a vital part of his family’s excavation company. Every year, he helped complete several commercial projects, learning valuable animal husbandry projects along the way. Kenan has spent many years in turkey production, starting out as a Farm Manager at Ag Forte, and later moving into the role of Breeder Manager for Valley of the Moon (Aviagen). After leaving live production he managed an equipment dealership, where he learned to fine tune building procedures and installation practices. All of his experience has made him a valuable asset to the VAL-CO sales team, where he is currently the Midwest Territory Sales Manager. Currently, he lives in Verona, MO with his wife, Becca, and 4 children – Raylee, Ellery, Phillip, and Harlan – where he enjoys working on his farm and passing life lessons on to his children.

Trey Martin

Trey was born and raised in central Alabama and studied Agriculture Business and Economics at Auburn University. Trey spent 13.5 years, all in Live Production with Tyson Foods. Trey’s duties ranged from a Broiler Service Technician to a Broiler, Breeder and Hatchery Manager and finally to Live Production Manager.

Currently, Trey is the newest member of the VAL-CO sales team, as the Upper Midwest Territory Sales Manager, where he provides service to distributors and customers. He enjoys being able to work alongside people to help them achieve their goals. His work is influenced by his strong faith, integrity, and honesty; he strives to be a servant leader each and every day. He enjoys going to church with his family and spending time together on the weekends, along with most outdoor activities with hunting and golf near the top.

Blair Gordon

Blair was born and raised in Simcoe County, an hour north of Toronto, Canada. Early in life, his father bought the local feed mill, and Blair had the good fortune to work there through his adolescence. He continued his education at the University of Guelph and then worked full-time as a professional agronomist in the feed nutrition and feeding equipment industries in Canada. He went on to conceive, develop, and patent a micro-processor-based nutrition monitor for on-farm feed mills – his proudest career achievement. In his current role as VAL-CO’s Canadian Sales Representative, as with all of his previous roles, he has been blessed to work with those who share the same values of honesty, truthfulness, and strong work ethic. “Most of my work has been fun so it’s hard to call it work. Everything in life is relative and when you are lucky enough to continue to work in agriculture around farmers you realize that you aren’t really working hard compared to your customers.” Like all good Canadians, Blair played hockey from a young age, winning two All-Ontario Junior Championships. He also enjoys golf and tennis, skiing and reading, and is blessed with two grandchildren.

Boyd Rice

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Boyd has been an ag man all his life. From 4-H and FFA, market show sheep to cattle grading, Boyd is a livestock guru. He attended Eastern Oklahoma State University on a livestock Judging scholarship, but was offered another to attend Texas Tech University, and so graduated from TTU with a degree in Animal Science. While at Texas Tech, Boyd worked on the 500 head research sow farm, and taught the swine lab classes. This was the start of his career in the swine industry, which he has seen develop like no one expected. He helped set up a 7300 head facility in the mid-90’s, the largest in the nation at the time, and today farms are double that size. Boyd has managed sow farms, written standard operating procedures, worked with the animal welfare programs, and has actively been involved and training and auditing. Boyd credits his success in the swine industry to God first and foremost, but also his years judging livestock, where he learned the meaning of hard work and determination. He carries these values with him to the 14 states he covers in the Midwest as a Territory Sales Manager. Boyd enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters, is an auctioneer, and avid knife maker and collector. He tinkers with his 1938 Ford pickup that he takes to parades and car shows and raises and races wiener dogs with his wife.

Eduardo Garza

Eduardo was born in Mexico where he moved frequently while growing up. He frequently changed schools, but also made many friends who he is still close with today. Eduardo studied mechanical engineering at UDLAP University in Puebla, Mexico. Prior to working with VAL-CO, Eduardo worked at a livestock supply dealership in Mexico. Today, he works for VAL-CO as a territory Sales Manager covering Mexico and South America, where he focuses on providing technical solutions to his customers and helping to grow local poultry and swine businesses. He was excited for the opportunity to come on board with VAL-CO as he would be able to grow his kills, expand his knowledge, and work with a global company that shares his same values. Integrity, friendliness, reliability, and stewardship are key to developing trust – the basis of a great relationship. Eduardo moved to the US in 2018 with his wife and their daughter. He spends most of his free time with them because he travels frequently, but also enjoys basketball, football, and outdoor activities with his Jeep.

Soufiane Talmoust

Soufiane grew up in Kenitra, Morocco. He and his family have been in the poultry industry for many years – both his father and grandfather are poultry farmers. He came to the United States to study agricultural engineering at Iowa State University, with a focus on animal production systems. While at university, he learned about VAL-CO products while working with Ventra Pro Controllers. Now, he works as the African Sales Manager where he is responsible for assisting dealers and distributors to be successful in their markets. In his spare time, Soufiane enjoys spending time with his family, and playing with his son.

Vishal Raina

Vishal was born in Srinagar, the main town of the summer capital of the State Jammu & Kashmir and India. His family moved to the southern part of the state, called Jammu, in 1990 due to militancy. He lived their until completing his secondary education, after which he moved to Maharashtra to pursue his passion, engineering. Vishal works as the Regional Sales Manager in India and continually seeks to build customer loyalty, find new business, and provide exceptional customer service. In 2017-2018 he achieved the company’s sales goal for the year in just 8 months, an impressive personal accomplishment. Vishal is friendly, polite, and respectful of everyone he meets, all customers both internal and external. Vishal enjoys playing cricket, travelling, learning new languages, and meeting new people.